Aaron Donald may not be the difference-maker the Rams need vs. Giants amid 'hope' for Week 2 return

Los Angeles Rams defensive end Aaron Donald. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Aaron Donald may not be the difference-maker the Rams need vs. Giants amid 'hope' for Week 2 return

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Sep 16, 2026 12:20 AM ET

Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald may be closer to making his long-awaited return in Week 2.

Donald didn't play in the Rams' 27-7 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne in Week 1, but the team hopes he will be available in Week 2 against the New York Giants (1-0) on "Monday Night Football," via Ian Rapoport of NFL Media and ESPN. If he's in the lineup for the home game, will the three-time Defensive Player of the Year be as impactful as he was in 2023?

How much of a difference will Aaron Donald make in Week 2 if he plays?

Donald, a 2014 first-round pick, tied for 10th in the NFL in tackles for loss (16 in 16 regular-season games) in 2023, earning his eighth first-team All-Pro nod. Expecting him to recapture his All-Pro form against the much-improved Giants is a stretch.

New York allowed just two sacks in its 28-20 win over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1. Except for linebacker Von Miller, none of the Cowboys defenders are future Hall of Famers, like Donald. That said, New York should still contain the 35-year-old.

From NFL Live on ESPN: The latest on #Chiefs CB Mansoor Delane (shoulder), #Rams DL Aaron Donald’s return, and #Eagles G Landon Dickerson going to IR. pic.twitter.com/9Nayn4S774
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 15, 2026

Double-teams could slow Donald, especially after the Rams pass-rush became even thinner now that defensive end Myles Garrett is being placed on injured reserve. L.A. clearly lacks depth after logging no sacks in Week 1.

49ers fifth-year quarterback Brock Purdy is slow-footed. The same can't be said for Giants second-year QB Jaxson Dart, who rushed for 54 yards on 11 carries in Week 1. Donald may run out of steam while trying to tackle him.

Donald returning in Week 2 would benefit the Rams, but perhaps not as much as they'd like. Stopping a rising star in Dart could be pushing it after he missed portions of training camp and didn't play in preseason.

Rams QB Matthew Stafford, who went 15-of-25 passing for 155 yards and an interception in Week 1, must rebound. L.A. may need more from its offense to make up for a defense that could flounder with or without Donald.

Clark Dalton

Clark Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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